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Welcome to Citizen University’s Civic Collaboratory! We are delighted to have you join this catalytic group of civic innovators—and what we think of as a cross-sectoral mutual aid society.
Please review the New Member Packet available at this link. Quick View information is summarized below.
National Civic Collaboratory Meetings 101
National Civic Collaboratory Meetings 101
The National Civic Collaboratory started in 2011 as a national mutual aid society and project incubator for hundreds of the country’s most innovative civic practitioners and catalysts from across the political spectrum.
Members of our high school Youth Collaboratory participate for the majority of the convening, providing an opportunity for cross-generational learning and collaboration.
MEETING SCHEDULE
MEETING SCHEDULE
We gather together four times per year, once virtually, the other times hosted by member organizations across the US. Our time together consists of two primary parts: a Thursday night Welcome Reception & Dinner and a Friday meeting.
There is power in sharing a meal together. The Reception and Dinner is a time to find joy in meeting new people and catching up with old friends.
The Meeting makes time for small group discussions and the circulation of resources through mutual aid.
MEETING PURPOSE
MEETING PURPOSE
When we gather together, innovators share cutting-edge projects and form norms of collaboration as they support one another in their work.
The Rotating Credit Club (RCC) is one way for members to learn about exciting work happening in the civic field. Through the RCC, members of the group take turns presenting an idea or project they are working on, and the rest of the Collaboratory offers not just commentary or critique, but firm commitments of help. This mutual investment of capital—social, intellectual, institutional, and sometimes financial—has made the Collaboratory a uniquely influential cross-silo convening.
MEETING PARTICIPANTS
MEETING PARTICIPANTS
Members of the National Civic Collaboratory are individuals who would be described as civic innovators. You're in good company!
Citizen University actively seeks members that represent diversity across sector, race, ethnicity, age, ideology, background, and skill-set.
Each National Civic Collaboratory meeting is typically capped at around 60 participants, and there is always a mix of new and established members in attendance.
Our Collective Commitments
Our Collective Commitments
We commit to working together to build bonds of trust and affection as well as providing a rich, productive convening and ask that you commit to your peers in the Collaboratory.
BEING A MEMBER
BEING A MEMBER
By joining the National Civic Collaboratory, members are committing to sharing their experiences and perspective and listening to those of others in the spirit of building bonds of trust and affection. Members also commit to utilizing their knowledge and network to benefit the collective power of the Collaboratory.
The people are what make the National Civic Collaboratory so impactful, so active members are expected to participate in at least one Collaboratory meeting per year. After one year of non-attendance, we will check in to inquire if members are still interested in being a member of the Collaboratory.
“In my first meeting, I got a broad yet sharp perspective on our civic challenges and real solutions that might address them, as well as connections to some of the most extraordinary leaders I’ve met in any sector, ever.”
Lynn Taliento, Obama Foundation
About Citizen University
About Citizen University
Citizen University is a national civic organization working to build a culture of powerful, responsible citizenship across the country.
We envision a great civic revival across our nation — our dream is a country in which Americans are steeped in a sense of civic character, educated in the tools of civic power, and are problem solving contributors in a self-governing community. Our work is to spread the belief that a strong democracy depends on strong citizens, that we all have the power to make change happen in civic life and the responsibility to try. Founded in 2012 by Eric Liu and Jená Cane, we are a recognized leader and innovator in the field of civic engagement, working at the intersection of the public, private, and independent sectors, to democratize the practice of civic power.
Our programs work to build a culture of powerful, responsible citizenship across the country using our framework of power + character = citizenship. We design programs and projects that teach civic power and civic character. We then activate and teach civic catalysts to spark the spirit of democratic renewal where they live, equipping them with the skills and resources to bring these programs back to their communities.
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